American Motorcyclist Association calls on U.S. DOT to include motorcycles in technology plans

Vehicle-to-vehicle communication can enhance safety, if all road users are included

December 13, 2016

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- Mandating vehicle-to-vehicle communications technology in new cars can benefit all road users, but motorcyclists demand to be included in the discussion, planning and implementation of the policies and regulations governing the rollout, the American Motorcyclist Association said today.

"We have been representing the interests of the motorcycling community since Day 1 on this issue," said Wayne Allard, AMA vice president of government relations. "We certainly recognize and appreciate the potential for improved safety as vehicles communicate while in operation. But we want to ensure that the detection and response sensors and software can detect motorcyclists and respond appropriately."

The U.S. Department of Transportation issued a proposed rule today that would advance the deployment of connected vehicle technologies throughout the nation's light-vehicle fleet. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking would enable vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication technology on all new light-duty vehicles, enabling new crash-avoidance applications that, once fully deployed, could prevent hundreds of thousands of crashes every year by helping vehicles "talk" to each other.

The proposed rule would require automakers to include V2V technologies in all new light-duty vehicles, which are passenger cars and some pickup trucks. The rule proposes requiring V2V devices to "speak the same language" through standardized messaging developed with industry.

In addition, the Federal Highway Administration plans to issue guidance for Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) communications, which the DOT says will help transportation planners integrate the technologies to allow vehicles to "talk" to roadway infrastructure such as traffic lights, stop signs and work zones to improve mobility, reduce congestion and improve safety.

"This new technology could help motorcyclists immensely by alerting drivers of a rider's presence as they prepare to make a left turn or approach a motorcycle from the rear," Allard said. "The AMA has submitted comments to the DOT and its National Highway Traffic Safety Administration since this technology first came to light. And we plan to work with the current administration, the incoming administration and Congress on these issues."

Among the motorcyclists' concerns are:

Software and sensors must be designed to recognize motorcycles and respond appropriately.

Personal privacy must be protected.

The communications systems implemented, whether Wi-Fi or another technology, must be secure from hackers.

The vehicle operator should have the option to turn off the signal to prevent unwanted tracking.

Motorcyclists and others wishing to keep track of the V2V and V2I advances and their effect on the riding community should subscribe to AMA Action Alerts at https://cqrcengage.com/amacycle.

About the American Motorcyclist Association

Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world's largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders' interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. The AMA also provides money-saving discounts on products and services for its members. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit www.americanmotorcyclist.com.